Pipe clamp



Afig. 16; 1932. w. E. RICH 1,871,562

PIPE CLAMP Filed 00%. 20. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmm toa W. E. RICH PIPE CLAMP Aug. 16, 1932.

Filed Oct. 20. 1930' 2 sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE WILLIAM E. RICH, OF BRADLEY, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROY BRIT- TON, F COTTON VALLEY, LOUISIANA i PIPE CLAMP Application filed October 20, 1930. Serial No. 490,015.

This invention relates to Well drilling apparatus employed to clamp-and suspend a pipe string within a well casing. 7

An important object is the provision of an improved, gravity controlled pipe clamp having manual releasing means, and which may be assembled at a well-head and be secured in position. 7

Another object is the provision of a clamp of this character comprising complementary sectional castings adapted to be secured together around a pipe, and in which an element of the clamp releasing means functions as the means for. securing the sections in assembled relation.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In this specification and accompanying drawings I have described and illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention, constituting the best means I have thus far devised for reducing the invention to practice.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation of a clamp constructecl inaccordance with the invention, as

applied in service.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 33 of Figure 2, with parts in elevation.

. Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 41 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is substantially a vertical section on line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of' the clamp in open position. c

Figure 7 is a top plan view of a clamp release element.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective of a portion of the element shown in Figure 7 In detail the clamp consists of a pair of complementary semi-circular casting sections 10 and 11, the walls of which arelaterally inturned at their upper ends to form arcuate tops 12 and 13 having each a semicircular recess. On the respective section tops an integral upstanding guide lip 14,

15, is formed at the edge of the recess and with the sections 10 and 11 assembled as shown best in Figure 2, the diameter of the bore formed by the top recesses is sufficiently large to provide ample clearance for a pipe string to be passed through the clamp.

The lower end of the clamp is formed with reduced neck portions 16 and 17 for proper seating engagement. in a well casing head, not shown, and above the lower end but appreciably below the horizontal median of the clamp, the section wallslO and 11 have integral, internal annular shoulders 18 and purposes. The ears 21 'and22 are so arranged that the pivot of the hinge coupling between the sections is disposed in line with the joint between the sections when in assembled position.

Diametrically opposite the ears 21 and 22 with respect to the sections when assembled in service position, are identical sets of ears 24 and 25 on the casting sections lO and 11 respectively. These ears are also apertured and overlap, receiving therethrough the shank of a standard 26 having its'upper end formed with an enlarged fork 27 between the arm of which is pivoted a rocking lever 28 having a bifurcated end forming curved arms 29 and 30 which extend over the section tops 12 and 13, the terminals of the arms being engageable through eyes 31 with an eye head 23 for seating and lifting and 32 provided at the upper ends of a pair of lift rods 33 and 34.

These lift rods are mounted for vertical reciprocation in the respective sections, being guided through the tops 12 and 13 and the shoulders 18 and 19. The rod 33, above the shoulder 18, is threaded for a portion of its length to receive aspair of lock'nuts 35 which are adapted to clamp between themselves a horizontally disposed arcuate lift ring section 36 having its ends formedwith tongues 37 which,'when the sections 10 and 11 are brought into assembled position, ens

gage in grooves38 formed in the ends of a 39 clamped between lift rod 34. It is obvious that through manipulation of the. nuts 35 and 40 the ring sections 36 and 39 the rods s siiiiilar lift ring section lock nuts i0 threaded on may be adjusted longitudinally of 33 and 34 to insure proper engagement of their tongue and groove end connections.

The casting section 10 has integrally formed in its walls a pair of spaced radial outwardly extending housings ll through the sides of which are disposed pivot pins 42'forming the fulcrums for the outer ends of vertically oscillatable links 43 which extend radially inward of the casting section and which have pivotal connection at their inner ends, by means'of' pivot pins 44:, with pipe engaging'dogs 45;

In like manner the casting section 11- has formed therein the housings 46, pivot pins 47, links 48-, pivots49 and holding dogs 50, corresponding in number and disposition to the identical elements in the section 10.

' In operation, assuming the casting sec- 7 tion tobe coupled in assembled service posiand 34:. vates the liftring comprising the sections a vertical are which dogs relative to the axis 33 and 34; and ring tion 'as shown in rocked on-its fulcrum to elevate the arms 29 and 30, which throughtheir engagement in the lift rod eyes 31 and'32 will cause a corresponding lifting movement of the rods 33 This movement of the lift rods elein turn engage under the links 43 and 48 thus liftdogs 45 and 50 through causes, in effect, a re- 36 and 39 which inner ends of the ing thepipe clutch traction of the pipe 7 of the clamp. It is apparent that under such retraction the pipe dogs mutually separate sufiiciently topermit free passageof a pipe through the clamp. j In pipe'engaging position, the leve'r 28 is rocked to depress the arms 29. and 30, rods sections 36 and 39.] The dogs l5 and 50 are thus freed to fall against the pipe 51, jamming'their serratedengagin-g faces against the pipe whereby the same is held against downward movement in a manner well known tothe art. I I

WVhile in this embodiment of the invention I have shown and described certain details entering into the'construction and oper- Figure 1, the lever 28 is .for moving said'lift rods vertically in the casing, v

j 2. A I pipe "clam comprising a casing adapted for assembly around a pipe, pipe engaging dogs carried by said casing, lift rods mounted in said casing for vertical move- ;ment, .means carried by said lift rods and adapted to elevate said dogs on lifting movement of saidrods, and a lever fulcru'med on said casing externally thereof and opera- ,tively engageable with said'rods.

35A pipe clamp comprising separable sections, means for securing said sections in assembled'relation around a pipe, radially disposed li'n'ks pivoted in the walls of said sections,'pipe clutch dogs on the inner ends of saidylinks, means for engaging the under sides of said links simultaneously to lift the same and dispose said clutch dogs in inopera tive'position, and'means having fixed connection within said sections with said link engaging means for operating the same.

7 4, pipe clamp comprisinga 'ca'sing,pipe engaging members mounted therein for vertical swinging movement, means in said casing for slidably engaging said members from bemath and having no connection therewith, and'means having apositi've connection with said meinber engaging means within the-confines of the casing for elevating saidmember engaging-means. I

*5. pipe clamp comprising a casing, pipe holding means lnsald casing and movable to pipe engaging position, and manually operable means supported in said casing out o'f contact with the walls thereof beneath said holding mean's' foi applying lifting force thereto.

posed pipe engaging elements mounted'therein for vertical swinging 'niovement, a lift rod disposed in thecasing for vertical reciprocation, and a member extending within the cassaid lift-"rod in free sliding engagement '6. In a pipe clamp,"a casing, radially dislit;

1 n Lu against the under faces of said links for applying lifting force thereto.

8. A pipe clamp comprising a casing provided with a bore to receive a pipe therethrough, pipe engaging dogs housed Within said casing and pivotally mounted therein, said dogs having a normal bias to pipe engaging position, means housed Within said casing for moving said dogs to pipe disengaged position, clamp operating means externally of the casing and including means extending through a Wall of the casing and connected to said pipe dog moving means.

Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature. WVILLIAM E. RICH. 

